Izturis signs three-year deal with Jays

By THE CANADIAN PRESSPublished November 9, 2012 - 12:30am Last Updated November 9, 2012 - 7:15am

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Infielder to earn $10 million

The Toronto Blue Jays have signed infielder Maicer Izturis to a three-year deal worth US$3 million a season. (THE CANADIAN PRESS)

TORONTO — The Toronto Blue Jays signed infielder Maicer Izturis to a US$10-million, three-year deal Thursday and acquired right-handed reliever Jeremy Jeffress from the Kansas City Royals for cash considerations.

Izturis, a 32-year-old native of Barquisimeto, Venezuela, appeared in 100 games for the Los Angeles Angels last season. He posted a .256 average with two home runs, 20 RBIs and 17 stolen bases in 19 attempts.

The Blue Jays said the deal was for $3 million annually. The contract includes a $3-million team option for the 2016 season with a $1-million buyout.

Izturis spent eight years with the Angels after breaking into the majors in 2004 with the Montreal Expos. In 791 career games, the five-foot-eight, 175-pound switch-hitter has a .273 average and a .337 on-base percentage while splitting time primarily between second base, third base and shortstop.

Jeffress, a 25-year-old native of South Boston, Va., did not record a decision in 13 relief appearances for the Royals last season. The six-foot, 195-pounder allowed 19 hits over 13 1/3 innings and posted a 6.75 earned-run average.

Over parts of three seasons with the Royals and Milwaukee Brewers, Jeffress has two wins, one loss, one save and a 4.89 ERA in 37 big-league appearances.

The Blue Jays also designated left-hander Scott Maine for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster.

•In between trade talks and early negotiations with free agents, baseball general managers considered some wide-ranging changes that include broader use of instant replay by umpires, changed roster limits for September and protective headgear for pitchers.

On the first day of the GM’s three-day annual session, the Colorado Rockies hired Walt Weiss as manager Wednesday and the New York Mets announced they had reached an agreement to terminate outfielder Jason Bay’s contract with one guaranteed season remaining. The Los Angeles Dodgers finalized a deal to hire Mark McGwire to be their hitting coach.

Arizona general manager Kevin Towers said he’d listen to trade offers for two-time all-star right fielder Justin Upton but thought a swap was not likely. And Texas GM Jon Daniels said the Rangers remained interested in re-signing All-Star slugger Josh Hamilton.

During the formal part of the meetings, the GMs talked about instant replay. Video review in baseball began in August 2008 and has been limited to checking whether potential home runs were fair or cleared over fences. Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig has been saying since early 2011 he wants to expand it to two additional types of calls.

“He was talking about really basically fair-foul, trap plays. But we’re looking into more than that,” said Joe Torre, MLB’s executive vice-president for baseball operations.

GMs also discussed altering the longtime rule allowing active rosters to expand from 25 to 40 from Sept. 1 through the rest of the regular season.